Day 7 – Ham Village

So I did some research this am on local libraries and found a library in Ham that looked like it was walking distance so we set off this afternoon to find it. Ok, so the map I was looking at online actually was facing the opposite direction, so I made a left instead of a right but then we figured it out and were back on track. We made it to the library just as it was about to close for lunch. They gave me some applications and told us to come back after 2. As we went home to have lunch, we made a very important discovery – a playground. We had decided to go to the Richmond park playground that day but after finding the Shady Lane playground, decided to go to that one instead. Today was a very important day to be at the Playground – Emily had already decided that. See today, many of the teachers in London were on strike just for the day which meant that there would be kids at the playground during school hours and she was correct.

After we had lunch back home, we set off for the Shady Lane playground. We brought some activities – a ball, the kite, some chalk, the jump rope. At first, Emily & Ainsley were playing together only, but then they got the kite out. Then all of the kids wanted to take a turn and after we put the kite away, the kids all played tag. Although they were still younger than Emily (except 1), they all had a good time. We quickly ran to the library before it closed and got 1 temporary membership allowing us to take out 5 books at a time. Not ideal, but at least something. I will see if I can get additional memberships next time we go to the library.

We made some other discoveries in the little town of Ham. There is a dry cleaner, 2 Newsstands (think mini 7-Elevens in a very non-descript way), a hardware store, a pizza place and an ice cream place. And of course, 2 pubs. After we got out of the library, we decided to go to the pub for dinner as Scott was not expecting to be home until after 10. While we waited for our dinner, we talked about 1 of the books we had checked out – “Tales of Beetle the Bard” by JK Rowling. The girls wanted to hear a story so I told them my recollection of the Tale of the Three Brothers from reading Harry Potter – Deathly Hallows. The bartender came over and said that she was listening to my retelling of the story because she was a huge Harry Potter (HP) fan and so we 3 chatted with her about HP.

Well week 1 has come to a close and I think we have accomplished a lot this week on our own with no car during the week. I do really love the bus system and the ability to walk. Some of the places we have taken the bus to, we probably could walk as well. Maybe next week.